SUBJECT: Welcome to the U.S. Army Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Resident Course

ATSS-DAO

SUBJECT: Welcome to the U.S. Army Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Resident Course

ATTENTION

USASMA WEBSITE MUST BE VIEWED IN INTERNET EXPLORER.

BATTLE STAFF WEB LINKS WILL NOT WORK IN EDGE.

CLICK THE ELM WELCOME MEMO FOR ATTACHMENTS.

ATSS-DAO 20 September 2017

MEMORANDUM FOR Student, U.S. Army Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course, Fort Bliss, TX 79918-8002

SUBJECT: Welcome to the U.S. Army Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Resident Course

1. Welcome to Fort Bliss and the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA). On behalf of the Commandant, congratulations on your selection to attend the U.S. Army Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course (BSNCOC). The BSNCOC is 22 academic days in length and is scheduled for a 5-day work week. Prepare yourself for an extremely fast paced and challenging course.

2. It is mandatory for all Temporary Duty / Active Duty for Training (TDY) / (ADT) students to check in the front desk of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Army Hotels (Bldg.1744 Victory Ave.). On arrival you will need a copy of your orders or DA Form 1610. We will need your room number during in processing. Be sure to write your room number on your bio sheet in the space provided. All students will be assigned a student number during in processing. Students assigned to Fort Bliss do not need to sign in at the Fort Bliss IHG Army Hotels.

3. All BSNCOC Students will report for in processing as stated below:

Date / Time 17 Oct 2017 (Day 1) / 0800-1100hrs. / NCOs w/ATRRS reservations. 0800-1200 for Students on wait or walk-on status.

Uniform Improved Physical Fitness Summer Uniform (IPFU) for in processing No Spandex.

Location Bldg. 11293 East Wing (indicated on the attached map)

4. Soldiers will be weighed in during in processing. If the Soldier does not meet the body composition standards outlined in AR 600-9 on the initial screening, a second screening will be administered no earlier than seven (7) days and no later than ten (10) days after the first screening. Soldiers who fail to meet the body composition standards after the second screening will be dismissed from the course. The Soldier’s DA Form 1059 will be marked “Failed to Achieve Course Standards” in block 11d and the results of the last body composition screen (DA 5500 or DA 5501) will be annotated in item 14 IAW AR 350-1 para. 3-13 (d) (e).

5. It is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork complete prior to reporting to the Battle Staff course for inprocessing. Students will report for inprocessing with all paperwork complete. Any student showing up with incomplete paperwork will be told to come back at 1300 on day of inprocessing. Failure to follow these instructions could cause a student to be denied admittance into the course.

6. Bring the following paperwork with you for in processing:

a. Completed Bio Sheet printed double sided on a sheet of paper (see attachment).

b. Completed Pre-execution checklist (TRADOC Form 350-18-2-R-EMAY 2016) (see attachment).

c. For Soldiers over 40, an Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) Report from AKO MEDPROS (IAW TRADOC Reg. 350-70, AR 40-501, NGR 40-501) that shows current Periodic Health Assessment (PHA).

d. One copy of TDY orders or DA Form 1610 with amendments. Personnel assigned to Fort Bliss (not assigned to USASMA) will have a DA Form 4187 signed by Unit Commander stating Temporary Duty Assignment to USASMA during duration of the course (see attachment). USASMA permanent party will have a memorandum signed by their Commander (see attachment).

e. 1 x Copy of DA Form 3349 permanent physical profile (if applicable, signed by a Physician and CDR). Students with temporary profiles that prohibit full participation in the course will not be enrolled unless the temporary profile is the result of injuries sustained during an operational deployment. If this applies, the student must bring a memorandum signed by their unit Commander that confirms this status.

f. 1 x Copy of Memorandum for Record (MFR) signed by an O-5 or above verifying assignment to an ASI 2S coded position, or a copy of the Unit Manning Report (UMR) with name, and paragraph and line number verifying the ASI 2S position. Students not assigned to a 2S coded position must provide via email a memorandum request for exception to policy signed by an O-5 or above two weeks prior to the report date for approval. Send the memorandum via email to the Senior Resident Instructor, MSG Harvey at or to the Senior Instructor MSG Lilly

at . Example memorandums are provided in attachments.

7. Lodging: IHG Army Hotels will provide billeting for Soldiers attending the BSNCOC based on the seven day Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS) report. If you would like to confirm your reservations you can contact the IHG Army Hotels at (915) 565-7777 prior to leaving your home station. When calling be sure to mention that you are coming to Fort Bliss for the BSNCOC and the dates you will be attending. DO NOT make reservations off the installation. Upon arrival to Fort Bliss, report to IHG Army Hotels (Bldg.1744 Victory Ave.). IHG Army Hotels will receive students who report earlier than the class report date, but the student will be responsible for making reservations and paying for that time period. Students can claim reimbursement when they return to home station unless arriving from overseas. Students are required to check out on the last day of their stay at the lodging desk. No shows will be billed for any unused rooms that were held for your class based on the seven day ATRRS report. The hotel counter and billeting office will not give statements of nonavailability. Do not make arrangements to depart USASMA prior to 1200hrs on graduation date.

8. TDY / ADT BSNCOC students are directed to subsist at the installation dining facilities on weekdays at no cost. Students will be on full meal per diem status on weekends and federal holidays only (ALARACT: 320/2011 DTG: R 232122Z Aug 11). The Academy does not issue meal cards. The Centennial Club on Biggs Army Airfield offers a lunch meal during the duty week only, with brunch on Sunday. There is a snack bar and Subway located in the Sergeants Major Academy complex that is open from 0700-1500 Monday through Friday. The distance to the PX Food Court is four miles. Transportation to and from Fort Bliss must be included on the Soldiers TDY orders. Sending commands are encouraged to support rental cars or in and around mileage, as applicable.

9. Travel Information / Directions:

a. If you arrive at the El Paso International Airport:

1. Take a taxi or military / IHG shuttle from the airport to the Fort Bliss Inn (Bldg. 1744).

2. In a Rental Car, from the Airport Service Road take a right on Airway Road, continue straight (west) to Buffalo Soldier Gate. (It is well marked and less than one mile from the airport).

3. As you enter Fort Bliss, ask the gate guard for directions to the Fort Bliss Inn or simply follow the signs at each intersection to the Fort Bliss Inn (it is well marked).

b. If you arrive by POV:

1. From 1-10 East or West, take U.S. 54 (Patriot Freeway).

2. Take Cassidy Road exit and enter the gate.

3. As you enter Fort Bliss, follow Cassidy Road to Marshall Road; turn left onto Marshall Road; follow Marshall Road to the intersection of Victory Ave and Marshall Road; turn right onto Victory Ave; Fort Bliss Inn will be on your left.

10. Directions to USASMA: From the IHG Army Hotels: Leave the IHG Army Hotels by turning left from the lodging entry onto Victory Road; follow this road to the intersection with Haan Road; follow Haan Road to the intersection with Luke Street (approximately 2 miles); turn left onto Luke Street and proceed to the stop light at Sergeants Major Blvd.; Turn right, follow Sergeants Major Blvd; the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy will be on your left; turn left into the academy area then proceed around the right (east) side of the Academy. There will be a sign for incoming BSNCOC students in the entrance way, centered on the academy’s east wing.

11. Students and parent units are responsible for scheduling transportation to and from Fort Bliss for the purpose of attending the course. Schedule yourself appropriately to make your ATRRS designated report date.

12. Classroom Instruction begins at 1300 on 29 Aug 2017. Formation will at the Academy East Wing, under the covered area to the right of the entrance. The duty uniform for the course is the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in either Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) or Operational Camouflage Patter (OCP). This will also be the uniform for graduation.

13. Packing list:

a. ACUs or OCPs with authorized boots and patrol cap.

b. Complete Improved Physical Fitness Uniform (IPFU).

c. White or black socks over the ankle (no stripes, rings or logos).

d. Athletic running shoes.

e. Identification Tags.

f. Field Jacket, authorized Gortex or fleece (winter months only).

g. Personal Hygiene Kit.

h. Civilian Attire.

i. Padlock.

j. Briefcase or backpack to transport numerous documents and or field manuals Army regulations to and from class.

k. Military Symbols Template (Pickett 1700I).

l. Super Fine Alcohol Pens PERMENANT (Blue, Black, Red, Green).

m. Alcohol or alcohol correction pens.

n. Post-It Flags or Tabs.

14. Civilian Attire: Summer weather in El Paso is typically hot and dry; therefore, we recommend lightweight clothing. Winter weather is generally cool, dry, and windy. We recommend a jacket or sweater. Social attire is normally casual, for example slacks, sport shirt, etc.

15. Family Members are not authorized for travel to this course.

16. Mail may be forwarded to you at the following Address:

Rank, Name

BSNCOC Class #_____, USASMA

11291 SGT E. Churchill Street,

Fort Bliss, TX 79918-8002

17. Advance TDY Pay Information: All students must possess the Government Travel Card. Units must issue the Government Travel Card prior to departure. If a Government Travel Card is not available, ensure that all advances are issued by your servicing finance office prior to your departure. No advances will be issued at Fort Bliss.

18. Physical Training is an individual responsibility while you are attending the BSNCOC. It is important that each Soldier strive for a level of physical fitness that permits total performance of assigned duties in a combat environment.

19. Additional Pertinent Information:

a. Do not bring privately owned weapons.

b. Travel to Mexico is off limits.

c. Students will not be granted leave or mileage passes during the course.

d. Ensure you complete any unit administrative requirements (i.e. NCOERs,

Awards, DA Form 31) prior to leaving your unit.

e. Do not try to conduct daily operations at your unit via telephone while you are attending this course. Inform your unit that constant distraction from classes may result in you being administratively dropped from the course.

f. Fort Bliss is in the Mountain Standard Time Zone; the Area Code is 915, DSN

Access is 621.

g. Students must know their CAC pin number to sign their Academic Evaluation Report.

h. Protestant services are available on Biggs Army Airfield. Other denominational services are available on Fort Bliss.

20. For additional information, logon to our AKO Homepage at https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/523033 or contact the BSNCOC during duty hours at 915-744-1066 / 9194 / 9165 (DSN 621-1066 / 9194 / 9165). The fax number is 915- 744-8480 or DSN 621-8480.

21. Point of contact is MSG Harvey at or 915-744-1066 or DSN 621-1066.

MICHAEL H. REED

SGM, USA

Chief Instructor, BSNCOC